Muted colours in the same shade but in varying tones together with a large central light fitting give a small office a sense of space.

Gone are the days when an office was just a chance encounter between four chairs, a boardroom and some storage. Nowadays, an office is the best advert for a company – indeed, it is the face of a company.

However, to play this role, an office has to work well on a practical level while illustrating the company brand. In other words, it has to be a creative environment for those who occupy the space, as well as a clever marketing tool.

Within this broad perspective, two main actors are colour and light. But as actors, they still have to strut and fret their hour upon the stage of an overall branding concept. Colour and light should be used as part of the image a company wants to portray. So for instance, an innovative and creative advertising firm might choose bright, vibrant colours to reflect a dynamic, fresh outlook. On the other hand, a financial firm whose branding aim is to portray a sense of loyalty, stability and trust might choose a palette of sombre, deep colours.

Efficient office design can promote motivation, creativity and productivity. A creative space cannot make a person become creative, but if you do not change the space people do not change their behaviour. It can also prove to be a magnet for creative talent, as creativity seeks a like-minded environment.

Office design can be used to inspire – colour and light are two elements which are most likely to help in achieving this.

Colour it in

The effects of colour within an office space is a new field of study. Once upon a time, offices were painted a dull grey. At the risk of being monotone and boring, grey was the colour of choice as it was not disliked by anyone and therefore was seen as a safe option. Thankfully, nowadays, we’re more adventurous.

Colour can be highly personal but some studies show that blue within the working environment can induce creativity. Red is best used when detail oriented tasks are being carried out, as it keeps you alert and focused. When used together colour, texture and pattern can provide an overall stimulating environment.

Colour can also be used in a less obvious fashion. On a more practical level it can help an office do away with or lessen the use of labels and tiresome filing cabinets by colour coding. A colour or shape can be assigned to specific rooms or projects – done correctly this could be a hugely efficient benefit.

Colour coding can also be applied as an alternative to sign posting in larger offices. This enables both the daily user and the visitor to have a comprehensible guide to circulation and the function of each space.

See the light

The properties of light can also be used in line with a company’s outlook. One must of course take into consideration the type of work that is being done, as any detailed work like reviewing, advertising or graphics would require specific well-lit spaces. Otherwise it is not essential to have a brightly lit office.

Too much artificial light can be tiring on the eyes and can heavily contribute to the utility bills. As well as contributing to savings, natural light has many benefits such as being a mood enhancer.

Efficient office design can promote motivation, creativity and productivity

With our very warm climate it is vital to control the amount of light entering the building. A south-facing façade will bring in abundant light which can be welcomed in winter but can cause glare and overheating in summer.

The placement of windows and apertures facing outdoors should be carefully considered to make the building more energy efficient.

This should be done by ideally sketching out the furniture layout at the planning stage. The use of blinds, tinted glass and heat-reducing film are vital and should be factored in when designing a building from scratch.

Light can play a vital role in adding a sense of movement, depth and energy to an otherwise dull space. The use of light fittings of different sizes at varying heights is one example of how this might be achieved.

This simple concept can be used to create a continuous flow throughout the space.

Davina Preca is an interior architect and designer.

www.davinapreca.com